How does the perception of someone in the military have an effect on Military Service Members or Veterans being hired in the civilian sector?

SFC Edward Nicholson — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:03:30 -0500

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 8:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:35:47 -0500

I think it has a lot of impact. One bad attitude can tarnish the good of a dozen service members.

Response by MSG Chris Allen made Nov 15 at 2016 8:35 PM

MSG Chris Allen — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:35:55 -0500

Thank you for sharing. I think so.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Nov 15 at 2016 9:11 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 21:11:36 -0500

There is a notion that former SMs have issues and problems and that the new employer is will have issues and problems with them. This misconception permeates the public, and is problematic to all future former SMs as they seek employment when they leave the service.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 15 at 2016 11:16 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 23:16:42 -0500

It has been either positive or neutral in my experience - mostly positive.

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made Nov 17 at 2016 10:42 AM

CPT Nicholas D. — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:42:12 -0500

Very good question! I think that is something that we need to ask ourselves when we look at the presentation we make as veterans to the civilian/business sector. I was asked once to look over a friend's Business School letter. The essay was asking "what is the hardest thing you have ever faced and how did you handle it." His essay was an awesome war story of combat valor and the tragedy of a wounded comrade. There were 'blood & guts', and medevac helicopters. 30+ constructive surgeries and the unit's adjustment to sectors of fire while destroying the enemy position with violence of action. His summary ended with mission requirements to be numb to the story's events and "continuing the mission" while erasing emotional attachment. It was a great story for the VFW bar... and maybe even relevant to Combat Stress Management to fellow warfigthers. The perspective that it portrayed to the civilian business realm was robotic and void of human emotion. I recommended the author evaluate the appropriate audience and make the story relevant to "why you should accept me into your MBA program." The grad student sitting in a cubicle with zero military experience is not going to have an appreciation for battlefield grandeur, and their perceptive take away might be negative when sorting through other potential candidates.

With a civilian population largely removed from the war-time experiences of our current Armed Forces, there is a gap we as servicemembers feel compelled to bridge with sharing our stories. That is healthy. But we also have to know our audience, and know that although you might be successful at the "jaw-drop effect," and you may have felt you have communicated your warrior acumen... The rest of the population is going to be pre-dispositioned to assume you are another pill-poping depressed and jaded veteran who's rampant alcohol abuse and inability to conform to modern "normal" society will be a liability to an organization that just wants to peddle widgets at the maximum market price without the sounds of explosions, skull fragments, and blood trails impacting workforce efficiency. "Thanks Hollywood." We need our stories told, but we need to know the appropriate format, timing, and venue for them. If you are applying for a job in business, your door-kicking ability will have little contribution except maybe a brief record of your resilience, courage under pressure, and ability to stay on task under the harshest of conditions. Other than that, save the juicy stuff for the folks that will have an appreciation for it. Most of them were with you when that happened.